Iron Dynasty Chapter 987

Previously on Iron Dynasty...

Xiao Ming tested the newly developed Changping machine gun at the military factory, marveling at Qingzhou's advanced industrial capabilities and ordering thirty units produced within a month to counter cavalry in the impending northern war. He toured the facility, dispatched soldiers for training, and later reflected with Qian Dafu on how the weapon would suppress European threats, end outdated firing tactics, and enable expansion into resource-rich Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, in Raozhou, Qi Guangyi led eight thousand rifle cavalry on a nighttime raid to intercept barbarian reinforcements, soon confronting ten thousand warriors from the Azure Dragon Tribe on the open grassland as both forces prepared for battle.

Across the vast expanse of the grassland, countless horses thundered onward. The barbarian riders stormed down the slope like a dark flood rushing forth.

Yet in Qi Guangyi’s gaze, this flood looked riddled with weaknesses. The barbarians, as usual, depended on personal courage alone, showing no progress in their cavalry tactics.

“The next group of barbarian riders is ten miles off. They’ll reach us in only thirty minutes. We have to crush this wave and pull back before then!”

Qi Guangyi spoke in a chilly tone, eyeing the oncoming barbarian riders. In the military, he had always been famed for his careful planning. Deploying the rifle cavalry for the first real battle, he had made every preparation. If he dragged this fresh unit into disaster, the blame on him would be immense.

To grasp the barbarian forces’ positions, he dispatched numerous scout riders across the plains, swiftly mapping out the paths of the three rider groups spaced ten miles apart.

With a brief moment of reflection, Qi Guangyi saw through the barbarians’ scheme. Indeed, in past clashes with them, they often unleashed elite riders to strike at the enemy’s rear.

The barbarians now laid this setup plainly as a snare for him. Though they possessed single-lens scopes, their lens-crafting skills had advanced, and the power of their scopes far outstripped those crude European single-eyes. Still, in scouting matters, they lagged behind.

“Understood, Corps Commander!”

The rider commander acknowledged the command, glancing at his pocket watch. Such timepieces had become essential gear for all officers, aiding in synchronized maneuvers.

“Charge…”

The ground quaked beneath the pounding hooves. The barbarian riders, wielding their curved blades, wore savage snarls. As the folk of the Great Yu Empire despised the Golden Tent Khanate, so too did the Khanate’s people loathe those of Great Yu—this conflict waged not just for territory, but for the very existence of both realms.

“Five hundred meters!”

“Three hundred and fifty meters!”

“First row, open fire!”

“…”

Qi Guangyi kept gauging the barbarian riders’ approach. Once the gap narrowed to two hundred and fifty meters, he commanded the volley.

He might have dodged this clash entirely, yet he opted to engage. That boldness stemmed from his faith in the recent drills. The time had come when Chinese riders would utterly dominate their barbarian foes.

“Bang bang bang…”

Following Qi Guangyi’s signal, the tightly packed riders lifted their carbines and unleashed shots from atop their still mounts.

With the blasts echoing, the onrushing barbarian riders tumbled from their saddles, their lines thrown into disarray.

Once the front row discharged, those troops flattened against their horses’ necks to reload. The barbarian riders then faced the second row’s aim. They fired their carbines, mimicked the first row’s moves, and the third row let loose.

Three volleys wrapped up in mere three seconds. Over 20,000 rounds poured like a storm onto the frontal barbarian riders.

Beneath that relentless barrage, the lead barbarian riders toppled like leaves in a gale. After three salvos, over 800 lay strewn along their advance.

These downed riders now blocked the barbarians’ rush. Countless pulled their mounts to a halt, averting collisions with the sprawled beasts.

This slackened the barbarians’ assault pace.

Grasping the moment, the first row of rifle riders reloaded swiftly and launched their next barrage. Amid the unending fire, the barbarians’ toll mounted steadily.

Atop the rise, Zak and the bald warrior’s countenances turned pale. They never dreamed the Great Yu Empire wielded guns reloadable while mounted. As his troops dropped steadily, Zak paced his steed in agitation.

A deep sense of dread swelled within him ever more.

“Banner leader, this Great Yu rider force didn’t stumble upon us by accident; they planned this.” The bald warrior eyed the advancing riders with worry. As a centurion, he rode amid the surge.

Zak replied firmly, “Retreating now is impossible.”

The bald warrior peered downslope. Post-second volley, they’d lost another eight or nine hundred. By now, the troops pressed within one hundred meters.

Wheeling mounts at such range would spark massive turmoil, amplifying their casualties.

“Taru…” Gazing at the oncoming host, the bald warrior shut his eyes.

As Zak and the bald warrior fretted, Taru among the riders hoisted his blade. His sibling led a thousand in the Azure Dragon tribe, earning great honor.

Thus, he refused to let his centurion rank face doubt or claims of riding his brother’s fame. In every skirmish, Taru always led the van.

But this fight diverged from all before. Projectiles from the Great Yu soldiers’ gun barrels felled riders and steeds nearby nonstop. From hill crest to base, shots whistled past his cheek two or three times.

“Charge!”

Enduring six barrages, they closed to a hundred meters from the Great Yu riders.

Then, they witnessed the Great Yu forces elevating their barrels once more.

“Bang bang bang…”

Taru’s shout cut short. His stare locked on the instant flames burst from a barrel, as a round struck square between his brows.

The steed bore the lifeless Taru another ten meters before he spilled off. In death, Taru clutched the reins tight, dragging the horse down too.

Those trailing couldn’t swerve and slammed into Taru’s fallen mount, breeding havoc. Such disorder erupted elsewhere, shattering the whole barbarian charge’s drive.

Yet this wasn’t their direst plight. As they steadied their beasts, dark rod-shaped items rained from above.

These rods burst on impact amid them. Blasts and fragments scattered, felling droves of riders while spooking more mounts into frenzy.

Qi Guangyi observed the disordered barbarian riders with icy detachment. Their horses, drilled against blast noises, left the tangled barbarians unable to mount a proper assault.

Exploiting the turmoil, he bellowed, “Charge!”

His call unleashed the bugle’s wail over the plains. The rifle riders slung carbines across backs and unsheathed blades. Amid the barbarians’ jumble, they surged ahead.

“Bang!”

The lead rifle rider swung his saber, slaying a barbarian whose mount had bolted. Then, from his left, another barbarian rider lunged. He fluidly drew the short-barreled pistol from his horse’s saddle holster and fired at the foe mere meter away.

Besides the carbine, each rifle rider’s kit held two pistols and three explosives. Truly, they bristled with arms.

Against this Great Yu rider tactic, barbarian losses soared. Soon, the field rang with blade clashes, pistol cracks, and grenade bursts.